The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-04
Keeping Grannie Out of the Poor
House.

Plain people do some fine preaching
now and then without ever dreaming
of such q thing. For instance, the
other morning we were talking about
the widow whose cruise Of oil held out
so wonderfully when she was required
of the Lord to take an extra boarder !;
and Mrs. Mellows turned to her hus-
band with q look in her kind, quick
ewes, that betokened 3 good untold sto-
ry. "Say, Pa" she said, doesn't
that make you think of us keeping
Grannie out of the poor-house?"
II reckon" he replied, cutting his
beefsteak with evident relish.
"How was to" we asked; "tell us
about it, please" =, =,
"Weli, there amt much to TELL"
she said the flush on her cheeks con-
tradicting her meek words.
"We hadn't much o. this world $
goods in them days, had we PAP"
"Nothing to brag on,n was the re-
sponse.
"But you see," Mrs. Mellows went
on, Ceramic belonged to PAS class,
and we knowed what a good soul she
was; so that Sunday, when we come
out O., meetin' after the sermon, there
stood Grannie, the very picter of trou-
BILE why Grannie,' says [, what as
the matter?' She pulled me one side
and whispered it out, for she couldn't
bear to speak agin' her own flesh and
blood, but bein' she was hard O hear
in, them that stood around heard
every word she said. They're goin'
to take me over to the poor-house this
week, cos Ed'ard's wife, she's sick so
much, and Carson's folks they have
got so many children-so many mouths
to fill-an' they can't none Of 'em be
bothered with me round no more. Oh,
if He'd only O. took me fore it had
come to thisn and the tears jest more'n
poured over old Grannie's face. !
guess if we hadn't had All extra good
class -meetin' I'd let off piece o. my
mind about that time, but swallowed
it down, and says / to Grannie, No
such thing! We don't let noneo the
Lords children 60 to that old barn Of
q poor-house. 'Taint 'cordin' to Scrip
ter says I, so come along Grannie,
as long rs we have a roof over our
heads therell be room for YOU BY
this time we were out on the steps,
and old Nanny an the buggy was up
to the end of 'em, and Pad stepped
out to let he get in. He was allus
quick to see through things, though he
never wastes words. lie kn0weG
we was goin' to have all We could do to
pull through that winter, but he was
never afraid TO trust the LORD. He
puckered up his mouth like he was go
ing to whistle, about half a minute.
Then he laughed, though his eye look
ed like spring rain, with the fire &
showin' through the under side o. the
Goals. Jump in, Granny, says he,
and he helped her into the old buggy
like she was his own mother. One
thing did stick i'll my crop, though.
Dan Smiths wife came up to me in a
way like pattin' me on the shoulder,
an says she, The Lord will reward
you, Sister Mellows,' says she, for be-
ing good to the poor couldn't help
thinking with their big house, and
great rich farm, and no mortgage, them
Smiths might IA put in for that re-
ward, themselves, Instead o being 50
ready to give it to us when we was SO
poor we couldn't hardly 60 alone.
But, poor things, they didn't prosper {;
tHey WeHt oll uoWu CoulI, auu luH
through everything, and the last we
knew of 'em they were as poor as
Jobs turkey. No more did old Jerry
Wattles. He was reconed right we'll
off then, but he run down dreadlully
after his oldest boy took to drink. You
see, Jerry, he.sent word to Pa, that we
hadn't no business lodin' ourselves
down with Grannie when the town
was able and willing to take care oi
her, poor as we was"